Word 365 minimum row height problem.

Question

A table created on the desktop version of Word fits neatly on to one page but in Word 365 the row height is automatically adjusted upward so that the table now spreads over two pages. I have not been able to adjust the row height down as I wanted to because in 365 I can only ask for a minimum row height and not a fixed height.. Every time I change the row height it automatically reverts to the height 365 has chosen as the appropriate one. The row height also reverts to the higher one if created in desktop and saved to SharePoint. It's quite annoying. I note that other people have had a similar problem in the past. Has a fix or work round ever been found for this? Or are there plans to allow people to choose and fix the row height for themselves at some time?

Answer 1

Dear Kernow,

Thank you for your information. I hope you're having a great day! 

Regarding to seeing your table layout change when transitioning from the desktop version of Word to Word 365 can be unexpected, especially when the table was carefully designed to fit on a single page. You’re absolutely right that having control over "row height" is important for maintaining a consistent and polished document layout, and this concern has been shared by many users.

After reviewing this further, we’ve found that Word for the web (Word 365) currently supports only minimum row height settings. This means that even if a fixed height is applied in the desktop version, the row height may automatically adjust when the document is opened or saved in Word 365 or SharePoint. At this time, there is no built-in option available to lock or preserve fixed row heights across both desktop and web environments.

• This issue has been acknowledged by others in the Microsoft community as well. Since it’s an expected behavior in the current design, I recommend submitting feedback in Microsoft 365 Feedback Hub 
  Go to: Microsoft 365 Feedback Hub →Send Feedback→ Describe your proposal in detail

 

Your feedback is important; Microsoft actively monitors user input to prioritize improvements. The more feedback they receive on this issue, the more likely it is to be addressed. 

Also, if you're posting this question in a community forum, you can mark my reply as the answer. That way, it will appear at the top and help other users facing the same issue find it easily and send their feedback too. 

I truly appreciate your understanding and cooperation. 

Best Regards,   

Vy-Ng - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist.

Answer 2

Hello Vy-Ng

Thanks for the prompt response. It sounds as if this is a problem without a solution as yet. I have tried editing the document in both versions of Word. I had already tried specifying the exact height and I have tried removing autoformat for tables but as you say once the file is saved into SharePoint the layout is automatically adjusted and the row height changes. This means that even if formatting changes are made in the desktop version of Word, they are lost once the file is saved on SharePoint. I haven't tried this with other tables but it is quite a straightforward one and remember having similar difficulties several years ago.

I think I will just have to reconcile myself to the fact that Microsoft 365 doesn't do what I want it to do in this instance and hopefully Microsoft will get round to allowing people to adjust the row height manually in 365 as you can in classic Word.

Kind regards

Answer 3

Dear KernowReader, 

Good day! Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Support Community and sharing your experience. I understand you're experiencing an issue where table row heights in Word 365 automatically adjust and do not stay at the value you've set, especially when the document is saved to SharePoint or opened in Word for the web. I’d be happy to assist you further and work with you to find the best possible solution. 

To help us better understand your situation and provide more accurate guidance, could you please confirm the following details? 

1. Are you primarily editing the document in Word for desktop, Word for the web, or switching between both?
2. Which version of Word are you currently using? You can check this by going to File > Account > About Word (e.g., Version 2506 or 2504).
3. Is the document saved in SharePoint, OneDrive, or stored locally on your device?
4. When setting the row height, are you using the “Exactly” option in the Table Properties dialog?
5. Does this behavior occur with all tables or only specific ones?
6. Are there any merged cells or special formatting applied to the table?

In the meantime, here are a few steps you can try in the desktop version of Word to help control the row height: 

1. Open the document in Word for desktop.
2. Select the rows in your table that you want to adjust.
3. Go to the Layout tab under Table Tools.
4. Click the small arrow in the bottom-right corner of the Cell Size group to open Table Properties.
5. In the Row tab:  
   • Check the box for Specify height.
   • Enter your desired height.
   • Set the row height option to Exactly.
6. Click OK to apply the changes.

Please note that Word for the web currently supports only minimum row height settings. If the document is opened or edited online, it may automatically adjust the layout based on content. For documents where layout consistency is important, we recommend making formatting changes in the desktop version of Word. 

Once I receive your response with the details above, I’ll be able to guide you further or explore additional options. I'm here to support you every step of the way. 

Warm regards, 

Vy-Ng - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist